‘US rebuke of Israel seems childish: no deeds, only words’

The US Administration’s criticism of Israeli PM Netanyahu has not been accompanied by any deeds and the country still remains Israel’s main supporter, political analyst and Haaretz columnist Gideon Levy told RT.

Anarticlein the Atlantic paper earlier this
week quoted Obama administration officials calling Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “chickenshit” and
“coward” who is engaged in political posturing instead
of making efforts to normalize the situation in the region. In a
private conversation with The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg, on
condition of anonymity, the US official called Netanyhu
“myopic”, “pompous”, “reactionary” and
“obtuse”, as well as blaming him for the “lack of
political will” and “selfishness.”

The reaction from the Israeli PM came rather fast and directly.

"Our supreme interests, chiefly the security and unity of
Jerusalem, are not the main concern of those anonymous officials
who attack us and me personally, as the assault on me comes only
because I defend the State of Israel," Netanyahu said.

"Despite all of the attacks, I suffer, I will continue to
defend our country. I will continue to defend the citizens of
Israel," he also added.

RT:Privately expressed opinions are one
thing. But do such attitudes towards Prime Minister Netanyahu
carry through to the official level?

Gideon Levy: Not everything is personal. Between
President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu there is bad blood
for a long time…Netanyahu crossed some borders long time ago and
he keeps on crossing some borders in relations between the two
allies, not equal ones. In the White House people thought that
this should be reacted to in a proper way. The only thing that I
would like to draw your attention to is that until now it’s only
words. There is something childish about that, because on the one
hand, the US is backing Israel almost in everything - with money,
political support, support in international organizations,
everywhere. So those curses coming from the White House towards
the Israeli Prime Minister until now are not accompanied by any
deeds. Finally, at the end of the day what matters are the deeds.

RT:Some American officials have accused
Netanyahu of being 'a coward', saying he is afraid to take
definitive action on Iran. What do you make of such
comments?

GL: First of all, one can ask “and the
American President isn’t a coward here?” - a man who is so
committed to bring peace to the Middle East, to bring justice to
the Palestinians. What did he do in his six years? And why didn’t
he do more, if not out of cowardice because of the domestic
politics in his own country? Sure, Netanyahu is very far from
being a courageous statesman, but unfortunately, Mr Obama is not
a very courageous leader either.

RT:Also in the article it's mentioned that
the US may withdraw diplomatic support for Israel in the United
Nations. What's in store for Israel if that happens?

GL: This will be a game-changer, because as you
know Israel is totally isolated in the international arena. And
it’s not only the support of the US, because the US in many cases
is preventing Western Europe [from] supporting the Palestinian
authorities more than it does. Once the US leaves its umbrella
over Israel, Israel will be in a very problematic situation in
the international arena.

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.